Comparison

Onkyo Controller vs Russound

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Onkyo Controller

Control compatible Onkyo network products with this official remote app. Stream music from various sources, manage playback, and operate connected home theater devices. Features automatic sound field correction for compatible products.

Highlights
  • Music playback from streaming services
  • Control music library and NAS drives
  • Remote control functions (play, volume, input)
  • Operate connected Blu-Ray players and TVs
  • Automatic sound field correction (Dirac Live)
  • Check audio/video formats
  • Turn on compatible units remotely
Features
Read full description

Onkyo Controller is the official Onkyo remote control application that allows users to conveniently operate compatible Onkyo network products from their iPhone/iPod touch/iPad. The intuitive, user-friendly interface makes it easy to get more from your AV home entertainment experience. Main functions that can be operated through this application. (1) Play music in each room or every room - Lets you play music from music streaming services such as Pandora, Spotify, DEEZER and TIDAL, your music library on your smart device, or your NAS drive on compatible products. - You can play your music via radio, Bluetooth and USB. (2) Remote control functions - You can operate general control functions (play/stop, control the volume, select the input source, etc.) from your smartphone. (3) Operation of connected product(home theater product such as AV amplifier) - Lets you control a Blu-Ray Disc player or TV that is connected to an AV amplifier or home theater product via HDMI. (4) Dirac Live-enabled products measure automatic sound field correction. In addition, filters can be edited. (5) Audio/Video formats of input and output can also be checked. *By setting the “Network Standby” menu item in the unit’s initial settings to ON, you can use this application to turn on the power of the unit. Compatible models Network AV Receivers/Network Audio Player/Home Theater/Wireless Speaker in April 2016 or later ■ Please note ・To use Application it needs to read and agree Terms of Service. ・All models require a firmware update to use Onkyo Controller. ・Available Service depends on regions. ・Why Device's location is needed? Answer: In order to set-up your wireless devices which are located around you, SSID and Access Point info is needed. There is no other purpose to use the information of Device’s Location.

About

Russound

Control your multiroom audio system from your iPhone or iPad. Manage zones, access system favorites, and view source metadata like album art. Supports various music streaming services with compatible hardware.

Highlights
  • Zone control
  • Source metadata and album art
  • System favorites management
  • Streaming service integration
  • DLNA support
Features
Read full description

The Russound app is the perfect way to control your Russound Multiroom Audio System from your iPhone or iPad. Key Features: *Easy control of any zone *Source Metadata, including album art for supported sources *Access to System Favorites - Create, edit or delete any favorites from your iPhone or iPad. *Supports compatible music services such as Spotify®, Pandora®, SiriusXM®, TIDAL, Deezer, TuneIn®, vTuner®, DLNA and more when used with compatible Russound streaming audio products. Compatibility varies by Russound device. Works with: Any network-connected Russound SMZ-Series, MCA-Series, MBX Series or XStream Series products. Note: Available features and screens within the Russound app are dependent on the connected Russound devices and the configured streaming services and physical sources connected to the devices.

Screenshots

Onkyo Controller4 screens
Russound4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Russound at 2.8 against Onkyo Controller's 2.2. Russound also leads on iOS requirement (13.0 vs 15.0). Onkyo Controller's advantage is review sentiment (26% vs 11%) and ratings volume (620 vs 54). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Russound holds the better App Store score, 2.8 against 2.2. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Onkyo Controller has 620 ratings behind it against 54, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 26% of Onkyo Controller's written reviews are positive against 11% of Russound's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Onkyo Controller ships an update every 2 months, Russound every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on October 17, 2026 and October 9, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
Onkyo Controller versus Russound: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterOnkyo ControllerRussound
PriceFreeFree
Rating2.2 (620 ratings)2.8 (54 ratings) — better
Positive reviews25.6% of reviews — better11.1% of reviews
Number of ratings620 — better54
Update frequencyEvery 2 months — betterEvery 3 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFreeFree
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS15.013.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size80 MB84 MB
Age rating4+4+
Developer11 Trading Company LLCRussound FMP

Customer experience

Onkyo Controller

All ratings620 ratings
Positive26.6%
Neutral6.0%
Negative67.4%
Written reviews508 reviews
Positive25.6%
Neutral12.0%
Negative62.4%

Russound

All ratings54 ratings
Positive38.9%
Neutral7.4%
Negative53.7%
Written reviews27 reviews
Positive11.1%
Neutral14.8%
Negative74.1%

Bugs and requests

Onkyo Controller

Reported bugs

5 issues
  • App doesn't recognize receiver
  • Fails to connect to Wi-Fi
  • Loses connection during use
  • Doesn't work with iOS 13 and newer
  • Causes receiver to enter Direct mode unexpectedly

Requested features

5 requests
  • Add support for Apple Music
  • Improve Tidal and Deezer integration
  • Allow customization of input names
  • Add sleep timer and power off options
  • Improve volume control and speaker balance adjustments

Russound

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

None

Onkyo Controller

No in-app purchases

None

Russound

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Onkyo Controller free?
Onkyo Controller is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Russound free?
Russound is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Onkyo Controller or Russound?
Russound is rated higher. Onkyo Controller averages 2.2 out of 5 from 620 ratings, while Russound averages 2.8 from 54 ratings.
Do Onkyo Controller or Russound have ads?
Neither Onkyo Controller nor Russound shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Onkyo Controller or Russound?
Onkyo Controller ships an update every 2 months, and Russound every 3 months. Most recently, Onkyo Controller was updated on October 17, 2026 and Russound on October 9, 2026.

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